FAQ – Bed Bugs & Apartments

Is your landlord responsible for getting rid of bed bugs? Imagine moving into a brand new apartment, and with-in a few days or weeks your whole family is complaining about tiny bites and lots of itching. At first you probably wonder, is it fleas from the dog? Then you realize that the new apartment you are renting was infested with bed bugs when you moved in! What responsibility does the landlord have to remedy the problem?

As a landlord there is a well-established legal duty to provide habitable premises, and obviously a bed bug infestation greatly effects the habitability. If you find yourself in a situation like the one above your first step should be to review your rental agreement for any pertinent provisions as to your rights and obligations, as well as those of the landlord. In addition, you should always report the problem to the landlord or property manager as soon as you suspect a problem. Always submit the report in writing and ask him to deal with the problem immediately. If the infestation is extremely bad you may be entitled to an offset on rent and reimbursement if you have any out-of-pocket expenses.

One of my tenants just reported a bed bug problem, what should I do? Bed bugs often travel through walls, under floors, or by hitching a ride on visitors, which makes any bed bug problem a concern for apartment owners. A single room with a bed bug problem could turn into an entire floor or building problem if it is extreme enough and not treated properly. Proactive landlords and property managers should consider routine bed bug inspections and treat all sightings quickly and effectively. Some states even require that landlords provide general information about bed bugs to all of their tenants. Check the laws and requirements in your state.

As a landlord how can I save money and still keep my units bed bug free? Hiring exterminators can be extremely expensive and can require multiple treatments to get rid of a bed bug problem. Many exterminators are still using the outdated chemical extermination methods to kill bed bugs which have been proved ineffective time and time again. Convectex offers the ultimate DIY bed bug solution for apartment managers with easy to use bed bug heaters. With Convectex you can get everything you need to provide quality heat treatments including the training, equipment, and reference materials. The heat packages pay for them self in just 4 treatments.

Learning to use your bed bug heat equipment and how to properly identify bed bugs is an important step in making sure that you are providing the highest quality treatments for your tenants. At the North American Bed Bug Training Center, Convectex offers a day and a half training session that will get you “up to speed” on all of the “tricks of the trade” that the professionals use every day. Multiple training sessions are offered throughout the year. Click here to find out when the next training session is and to reserve your slot in our next session - https://convectex.com/products/bed-bug-education-and-training-course